Welcome to IBSCA

Welcome to the IBSCA website. IBSCA is the International Baccalaureate Schools and Colleges Association of the UK and Ireland. Membership is open to all UK and Ireland schools and colleges which are recognised as IB World Schools. IBSCA works throughout the UK and Ireland to:

Support IB world schools

Advise candidate schools on authorization matters

Liaise with Higher Education on IB

Provide professional development opportunities

IBSCA itself is one of the Associations of IB world schools. Information about the other World School Associations can be found on the IBO website.

King William's College

King William's College, founded in 1833, is a co-educational, day and boarding school set in the beautiful safe haven of the Isle of Man. Located on a site just outside Castletown it is only five minutes from the Island's airport with excellent travel links worldwide. There are 400 pupils in the school most of whom live on the Island, but a significant proportion of the Sixth Form board and this gives the school an international character. We pride ourselves on being a warm and friendly community.

The College began teaching the International Baccalaurate in 2002. It is the only qualification offered in the Sixth Form so all pupils follow the Diploma programme and the IB is central to all aspects of College life. Approximately 60 pupils sit the Diploma exams each year and with such a large cohort we are able to offer a wide range of subjects. Results have been consistently strong, with an average point score each year of about 34, and pupils gain places at some of the best universities in the UK, Europe and the US.

IBSCA offers

Support for IB Schools

IBSCA provides support for IB schools in a variety of ways. Firstly it provides a network through which schools following IB programmes can liaise with one another in order to share best practice. Conferences, workshops, area network meetings as well as informal contact all contribute towards making IBSCA a rich source of advice and support for its member schools.

Authorisation advice

Schools considering seeking authorisation to run one of the IB programmes are able to obtain advice and support from the IBSCA network. This may be informal support by email or telephone or it may involve attendance at one of the local or national conferences. In the first instance, schools considering authorisation can consult the relevant parts of the IB website.

Liaison with Higher Education

The post of UK Development and Recognition Manager is currently held by Peter Fidzcuk. This full-time post is jointly funded by the IB and IBSCA.

The UK Development and Recognition Manager provides a vital link between ISBCA, the IB and the UK universities. The manager maintains the Universities section on this website and can be contacted by IBSCA members with questions, queries and worries about university recognition, admissions and requirements.

The universities section of this website lists a significant number of frequently asked questions ...and answers!

Professional development opportunities

IBSCA organises five strands of Professional Development:

1. IB Teacher Workshops. These are fully authorised by the IB and include workshops for DP, MYP and PYP teachers. Details on each can be found in the Events section under Teacher Workshops. These are available for member schools and for non-members.

2. National Conferences. Typically there are two of these per year - one in the autumn; the other in the spring. Occasionally, a third conference is organised in the summer. Information on the Conferences can be found under National Events. They are open for member schools and non-members.

3. Professional Development Seminars. Several of these are arranged each year - typically in the spring. They are one-day training opportunities for experienced IB teachers in member schools only. Details are shown in National Events.

4. Area Network Meetings. Around one hundred of these are arranged each year by the various Area Networks (local clusters of IB schools). They are for IBSCA members only.

5. Other events. Various other events on specific topics (Introducing the MYP; Marketing your school; etc.) are arranged as needed.

Featured schools

Malvern College is a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 13-18. Founded in 1865, Malvern is set in a beautiful 250-acre campus in the heart of England; an inspiring, supportive and friendly environment in which to educate children.
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Gresham's is a co-educational boarding school with a very proud tradition of educating children since 1555. Based in beautiful North Norfolk, our School offers a secure and happy environment in which to grow.
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Wherever you are in the world we are happy to see you. In our rainbow school we have 38 nationalities and you have a wonderful chance to improve your English, learn some stuff, make some friends, and feel part of something generous and supportive. Some of the people here will be friends for life.
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King William's College, founded in 1833, is a co-educational, day and boarding school set in the beautiful safe haven of the Isle of Man. Located on a site just outside Castletown it is only five minutes from the Island's airport.
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